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About CHF

Our Members and Success Stories

There are inspiring stories of member succeeding and overcoming obstacles throughout the Center for Health and Fitness (CHF). CHF set out to share some of the most impactful stories by featuring these five members as honorees at its Spirit of Wellness Celebration.

2017 Spirit of Wellness Honorees

CAROL SCHIEWE

Despite two forms of cancer and a rare degenerative brain disorder, Carol applies a positive, can-do attitude to daily life, including her grueling, five days a week fitness routine at CHF..

At 82, Carmen is an archetype for healthy, active living. Not only is she an active volunteer with the City of Redondo Beach and BCHD, she also regularly cycles and exercises five to six days per week at CHF.

“For years I said I wasn’t an alcoholic, but I had one foot firmly in the grave,” says CHF member Dash Michaels, who just a few months ago celebrated five years of sobriety. His long, arduous battle with alcoholism is a stark reminder of the perils of addiction as well as an inspiring comeback story that shows it’s never too late to make a healthy change.

It didn’t happen suddenly, but John Niehaus is not half the man he used to be. And he couldn’t be happier about his transformation. Using nothing but good-old-fashioned exercise, proper nutrition and support group therapy, the gritty 68-year-old CHF member has lost 200 pounds the healthy way.

Surrounded by friends and family, CHF member Laura Ruiz celebrated her 45th birthday on March 6, 2014. She remembers being thankful that day for her health, happiness and career – and recalls being blissfully unaware of the dramatic twist her life would take the next morning.

Paul, 69, joined CHF at his wife’s urging seven years ago. At the time, his goal was to lose a few pounds and “firm up.” So he took a conservative approach – using the treadmill and light weights. But as his physical condition evolved, so did his objectives. And he enlisted the help of long-time CHF trainer Derek Malit to accomplish them.

Stuart Joseph exemplifies the core values that CHF and Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) stand for: compassion, integrity, excellence and accountability. He is a pleasure to work with and a great representation of what CHF is all about.